Maxwell
Boy name · #189 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Maxwell? In official American birth records, Maxwell has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Maxwell is currently the #189 boy name in the United States — 1,924 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #113, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 936 boys born in 2025 was named Maxwell.
Babies named Maxwell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Maxwell first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 3,739 boys were named Maxwell — good for #107 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Maxwell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Maxwell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Maxwell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Maxwell is most common
Geography matters for names, and Maxwell is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Maxwell is most common in DC (5.5 per 1,000), RI (5.4 per 1,000), NH (3.6 per 1,000), ME (3.1 per 1,000), CT (3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Maxwell is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Maxwell
Maxwell carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Maxwell family went to about 3,949 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #82, versus #189 for Maxwell alone.
Names like Maxwell
Statistically, parents drawn to Maxwell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Emmanuel, Miguel, Abraham, Tucker, and Mohamed.
EmmanuelMiguelAbrahamTuckerMohamedMaxMaximusBraxton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Maxwell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,924 | #189 |
| 2024 | 2,024 | #182 |
| 2023 | 1,992 | #182 |
| 2022 | 2,183 | #173 |
| 2021 | 2,380 | #162 |
| 2020 | 2,513 | #146 |
| 2019 | 2,637 | #147 |
| 2018 | 2,907 | #134 |
| 2017 | 3,081 | #133 |
| 2016 | 3,585 | #111 |
| 2015 | 3,553 | #113 |
| 2014 | 3,739 | #107 |
| 2013 | 3,643 | #108 |
| 2012 | 3,233 | #113 |
| 2011 | 3,056 | #132 |
| 2010 | 3,015 | #133 |
| 2009 | 3,080 | #132 |
| 2008 | 3,058 | #134 |
| 2007 | 2,713 | #153 |
| 2006 | 2,792 | #149 |
| 2005 | 2,810 | #140 |
| 2004 | 2,927 | #136 |
| 2003 | 3,086 | #132 |
| 2002 | 3,036 | #129 |
| 2001 | 3,183 | #124 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Maxwell?
In official American birth records, the name Maxwell first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Maxwell a popular boy name?
Maxwell ranked #189 among boys in 2025 with 1,924 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #113.
When was the name Maxwell most popular?
Maxwell peaked in 2014, when 3,739 American boys received the name (ranked #107 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Maxwell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 936 newborn American boys was named Maxwell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.